At 1:38 a.m. on Thursday, an Air India Boeing 787-8 carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew crashed in a civilian area near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff.
The flight was bound for London's Gatwick Airport and included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals, according to Air India.
Local police confirmed the jet went down just minutes after departure, and survivors and families are awaiting news as rescue teams comb the crash site.
"Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad," Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu wrote on social media. "We are on highest alert. … My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families."
Authorities have mobilized all aviation and emergency response units. Medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the scene as investigators work around the clock to understand what happened.
This incident underscores the challenges of ensuring safety in one of the world's busiest travel corridors and raises questions about emergency preparedness, even as global airlines expand routes between emerging markets and major hubs.
More updates are expected as authorities piece together the causes of the crash and families seek closure. International community members, from business travelers to digital nomads, will be watching closely for developments in one of the biggest aviation emergencies in recent years.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
